New SBP law militates against constitution?
This article contends that the State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Act, 2022 (“Act”) is plainly, on the face of it (ex facie), in violation of the Constitution. Reportedly, the government’s…
Constitutional democracy and rule of law
What title best describes the form of government envisioned by the Pakistan’s founders, and crystallised in the Constitution of 1973? The question may have originated in the realm of political…
‘Unconstitutional’ windfall tax—II
Discriminatory without intelligible differentia [Points 7 & 8] The Supreme Court of Pakistan in Federation of Pakistan through Chairman FBR and others v Hazrat Hussain and others (2018 SCMR 939)…
Lawfare against Farhatullah Babar
In one of my previous columns (‘Lawfare limited to warfare unlimited’, March 30, 2025) we discussed how states tend to use the law as a means to stifle dissenting voices.…
‘Unconstitutional’ windfall tax–I
Banks have regular windfall income from dealing in foreign currencies – oxymoronic treatment by SRO. 1588(I)/2023 dated 21.11.2023. In Pakistan, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is de facto legislature (sic)…
Law of equitable management
Water is life. The birth of human civilisation also owes itself to the assured supply of abundant water from major rivers. It was on the banks of the Tigris–Euphrates river…
‘Draconian’ law to control social media
The digital age has revolutionized the life of human beings, their means of communication and ways of conducting business. Among the most significant advancements is rise of social media platforms,…
Constitutional breakdown
IT was in 19th-century Britain that A.V. Dicey wrote that the British parliament is sovereign, and no person or body has the right to override legislation of parliament. Since then,…
Constitutional crossroads
The 26th Amendment to Pakistan’s constitution is more than a procedural adjustment – it represents a seismic shift in the balance of power between parliament and the judiciary. Passed with…
Integrity is the law
WHAT do judges really do? What magic do they use that, not them, but the words they speak, dictate and rule? What is their lot? What objects are hidden under…
